Celebration Tour - Part 2 - Squamish to Whistler, BC

Friday, July 28th

We had a very lazy morning as we didn't plan to check out until 11 am as we're only driving to Whistler and can't check in until 4 pm. Ray took a few more morning shots from the hotel window of the harbour and managed to get a couple of great ones. Colours are a little off due to the tinted windows in the suite.

The Iconic Vancouver Skyline

We had another relaxing jacuzzi before packing up and going out for breakfast. The Tomahawk Restaurant, featured in "Diner's Drive-in's and Dives "as well as "You Gotta Eat Here" is only a short drive away we decided to try it out. The portions were huge, the bacon awesome. Unfortunately the hashbrowns were cold but still quite tasty.

Once back to the hotel we took our luggage back down to the car and off we go to the next part of our adventure. First though, we decided to drive back up to the Cleveland Dam so Ray could take a better picture of the Lions as yesterday the top was covered by clouds.

Absolutely stunning, well worth the short detour.

Carrying on down Highway 99 we stoped at the Sea to Sky Gondola, just outside of Squamish. We've passed this attraction several times but decided the $44 fee was too much and we had Freya with us who could not go in the cars to the top. You can hike your dog up though and take the dog back down in the gondola. Great views at the top and we had a bavarian smokie with salads and beer sitting out on their patio looking at the gorgeous views. A lovely "time-out" before carrying on up to Whistler.

Bottom of Gondola. You cannot see the Summit from here.

Reaching the top of the Gondola

View looking towards Squamish

Almost there. A ten minute gondola ride and you are at the top.

Looking down Howe Sound

Bavarian Smokie with salad and beer and a side of fantastic view. What a table at the The Summit Eatery and Edge Bar

Suspension bridge from the Summit Lodge looking at the Sky Pilot and Co-Pilot peaks.

Squamish River Estuary 

Those white dots are kite surfers

Shows how windy the Sea to Sky Highway is in places.

There we go ... almost at the bottom again.

Ray and I arrived at our Whistler hotel at 3 pm and they allowed us to check-in early. After all of the walking we've done for the past 3 days .... Ray is kind of a mess. With him in mind we just took a short drive around the area and had dinner across the street at Hy's Steakhouse. Ray started out with fresh oysters. I had a fantastic meal of Beef Wellington, but Ray unfortunately had the house's special and ended up with overcooked halibut with a very salty sauce which he sent back. When they returned with a new piece of fish it was raw .... needless to say they comped his meal. Quite a dissapointment from a very high end restaurant with prices to match. Fortunately I had enough to share and Ray ate all of his sides. Washed down with a great bottle of red wine and a free dessert of brownie with ice cream it turned out okay.

Beef Wellington done perfectly, Medium Rare Fillet

This was taken before he tasted it! It looked good though. He did eat the scallop and the lobster risotto.

We went back to the room and spent the rest of the evening relaxing. I brought Ray's zero gravity chair with us so it helps to have a comfortable place for him to sit in the hotel rooms.